Describe the changes in civic life associated with urban growth in later medieval Europe. Use the document in the Diversity and Dominance section, "Persecution and Protection of Jews, 1272-1349," in your analysis. What do these documents reveal about the position of Jews in the Latin West?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER:
Students should understand that the European cities differed from their Islamic and Chinese counterparts in many ways. Although the Latin cities lacked the public baths and water supply systems that existed in the Islamic world, they did offer a greater degree of social mobility because they remained free from the authority of local nobles. Social mobility grew from the desire to adjust to market forces and resist imperial authority. Despite the opportunities for some in the cities, most urban dwellers were poor. Cities experienced increasing cultural and religious diversity. For instance, they drew small but significant numbers of Jews, who were connected to the growing fields of business and moneylending. Despite the protection Jews received, they were also subjected to violence and persecution, as the document suggests. Guilds regulated business practices and the labor of the working classes while also excluding Jews and reinforcing the divisions of male and female work. In addition, a new class of merchant bankers emerged through their specialization in money changing and investing. An example of the growth of this class is the Medici family of Florence, who used their banking success to gain political influence. Agricultural and commercial surpluses spurred technological, artistic, and architectural growth.